Terrah Van Meter. (Terrah Van Meter)
Travel Advisor Success Stories focus on veteran advisors and how they achieved success. Here’s a look at Terrah Van Meter, an advisor at Legacy Travel.
How did you get your start as a travel advisor?
When I discovered I was pregnant with my second son, I was running a busy children’s fitness program, which was taxing on me physically. While I absolutely loved my job, I knew I needed a change that would be a better fit for me and my family.
Being a travel agent had intrigued me since I was a young girl, so I busted out the Yellow Pages (showing my age now!) and started calling every travel agency in the Dallas area to see who would give me a chance.
After several calls, a skeptical woman asked me something along the lines of, ‘Do you realize this is the second time you have called me today? We are not hiring but I’d like to interview you. Can you come in tomorrow at 10 a.m.?’
That skeptical woman ended up being Catherine Banks, who hired me and has been my mentor alongside her husband and business partner, Philip Banks. I am grateful they saw something in me that day in 2005, which catapulted my travel industry career.
How did you build your business over the years?
Shortly after becoming an advisor, I was one of several agents on a Funjet Vacations familiarization trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico, where I visited several resorts. From that FAM, I was inspired by a couple of resorts in particular, which I started sending my clients to.
One of these clients asked me if I would handle her destination wedding, to which I replied without skipping a beat – yes! The process of helping them choose the resort, secure a wedding package and assist with every travel detail for them and their guests made me feel like I had found my niche, my purpose and my passion. The best part was hearing their happy travel stories and seeing their pictures when they returned.
At the height of my destination wedding era, I was assisting with 30 to 60 weddings a year. The repeat and referrals from that era are without a doubt where my success comes from.
Van Meter said she finds joy in curating one-of-a-kind journeys like chasing the Northern Lights through the landscapes of Iceland. (Source: Eleven Experience)
While I still love assisting with destination weddings, I get the most joy from curating one-of-a-kind journeys, from island-hopping by private jet throughout vibrant Greece to chasing the Northern Lights through the landscapes of Iceland. Our destination management companies through Signature Travel Network have been game changers with these once-in-a-lifetime types of trips. They are well-vetted and the best of the best.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
Grit. The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of grit is ‘firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.’
What have your greatest challenges been?
The biggest challenge has always been the ongoing balancing act of work and personal life. Trying to be the best travel advisor, wife, mom and friend all at the same time is impractical, but learning to put strict boundaries in place to prioritize what is most important, and when to turn the work mode off, has helped me find peace, joy and comfort.
The global pandemic, recessions, terrorism attacks and drug lord media scares have also proven to be challenging. Luckily, I enjoy a good challenge.
What are your greatest accomplishments?
By far my greatest accomplishment has been being able to support my two sons and see them grow into well-traveled, passionate young men. The travel industry awards and acknowledgments along the way have been a nice bonus, too.
What tips can you provide advisors new to the industry?
Remember that clients aren’t looking for you to convince them of anything; they just need you to show them how you are going to make their lives easier. Try to be velvet over steel in this process – which means showing warmth, empathy and understanding while being confident, knowledgeable and decisive.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
